Heat exchanger



May 2, 1944. R o s 2,348,020

HEAT EXCHANGER.

Filed April 17, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor:

' Roilfm H. N ris,

N M P fi /m m f May 2, 1944. R. H. lgORRls 2,348,020

HEAT EXCHANGER F'iled April 17, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 7.

Invenbri f ROI l in H. Nor'fls,

b 1 649W y t -l zAttorney Patented May 2, 1944 HEAT EXCHANGER Rollin H. Norris, Schenectady, N Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation 01' New York Application April 17, 1941, Serial No. 389,023

4 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to heat exchange apparatus and more particularly to heat exchange apparatus of the counter flow type and having a plurality of chambers designed to cause liquid to flow in relatively thin layers on opposite sides of relatively thin heat conductive plates and which is especially adapted for the pasteurization of milk.

It is an object of my invention to provide a new and improved heat exchanger, which may be readily assembled and disassembled so that the component parts may be easily cleaned.

It is also an object of my invention to provide areadily assembled and disassembled'heat exchanger which is emcient in operation, rugged in construction, and economical of manufacture.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a new and improved heat exchanger assembled from standardized parts so that a heat exchanger of any desired capacity can be formed readily.

Further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of novelty which characterize my invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig.-1 is a view in perspective of a heat exchanger embodying the principles of my invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion .of the heat exchanger shown in Fig. 1 taken in the direction of the arrows 2-2 in Fig. 1 and illustrating the location of the intercommunlcating ports; Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the heat exchanger shown in Fig. 1 taken along the-line 3-3 of Fig 2; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the heat exchanger shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of one of the annular plates or disks shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, illustrating the sealing or gasket means associated with the plates; Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view, similar to the view shown in Fig. 4, of a modification of .als I l to 20, inclusive. The annular disks are preferably formed of relativelythin heat conductive material, as sheet metal, so that heat may be readily conducted therethrough to the opposite sides thereof. 'llhe relative rigidity of sheet metal is also advantageous in this type of apparatus. Spacing means in the form of annular gaskets disposed adjacent each edge of the disk, as indicated by the numerals 2| and 22, are provided. Thus, the gaskets 2| and 22 in cooperation with the respective plates define adjacent, single and annular fluid conveying or plates, the disks being indicated by the numertight chambers or channels.

chambers or channels 23-to 3|, inclusive. The inner and outer circumferences of the chambers or channels defined by the sealing or spacing means have relatively large radii of approximately the same order .of magnitude so that the flat conducting chambers or channels between each pair of members are relatively narrow and of substantial length; In order to improve the heat exchange, it is desirable that the fluid to be cooled or to be heated, as milk for example,

fl'riw in thin streams. Therefore, the spacing members or gaskets 2i and 22 are dimensioned to provide relatively flat, thin chambers or channels.

I have provided means for providing fluid- I In the form of my invention shown in the, drawings, this means utilizes gaskets 2| and 22. Thus, the gaskets 2| and 22 may be formed from a sealing material,

t'allie'ribs, for example, and the sealing meansmight then take the form of rubber gaskets disposed circumferentially of the disks. Another alternative would be the use of reinforced rubber gaskets, as for example, by incorporating a wire as a core in a rubber gasket. If desired, instead of using a single gasket between members and affixed to one member, a pair of cooperating gaskets may be used, one on each of the adjacent plates.

In order to increase the strength of the heat exchanger, I have provided means for stiffening the disks or members Ii to 20, inclusive. In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, this is accomplished by providing conical or dish-shaped disks, as by a punching operation for example, each disk having an an- :ship. In the illustratec l lforin o my invention,

provided two circuinferentially .spaced apart "nular 'flange' along each "marginal edge, the

flanges being disposed in parallel relationship thereby providing surfaces which are especially adaptedto cooperate with the sealing or'spacing :means orboth. It will be appreciated that the flanges, being disposed at arr-angle to the 'main .portionof the disk will also serve toadd strength and rigidity to th the arrangement I, e, disks N gated; or the ongitudina direction for the the.

shown S-shap d" a'fore-mentioned purpose, as indicated by, numeral 46.

There is also provided suitable mean gfor maintaining the disks inthe assembled relationthismeans takes the form fvannular members 32 and 33 engaging the stack at the outer edge thereof anda secondz-pairzof annular members '34 and 35 engaging the stack at the the a table fastening or clampranged ron -the circulation of two fluids chapg relationship, a fluid to be cooled example a cooliug fluid as water may be emloyed td cool down heated" -I have-arrangedgmy heat exchanger so that thefluids n xl in alternate layers "or channels through the tack so that"milk,"for example, will flow through a channel extending between two steam or hot water passages :01 channels. To this end, the

disks .ll to2l, inclusive, are arranged intsuch a way that wired-assembled there are :provided two sets of serially-connected fluid conveying channels, a channel from either set being :dispoaed-betweehxchannels cfthe'other set. In or- "der to increase theeflicienoy of the arrangement, the disks areJso disposed that the fluids flow in counter flow whereby the effective meantemperature difference between the flowing streams is increased inasmuchas the temperature between adjacent streams is more .uniformthan .11 both. streams iflowedsin the same direction onboth sides of the'plates.

In order to accomplish these results, I have ports 31 and '38 each disk, the ports extending transversely of the .disk, that is, radially. There are provided "transversely extending 'gaskets or sealing members and 40 extendin between the circumferentialsealing'members or gaskets 2i and '22 on each side of one of the ports, as 31 for example, thereby isolating the port 31 from the passage or channel associated with that :particular .disk or plate. This arrangementis best seen in Fi 5.

In assembling my heat exchanger, the plates are stacked up one "above another with theisolated or walled port 31 in registry or alignment with the non-isolated port 38 in the'next adjacent disk. In otherwords, each disk is displaced in a circumferential direction, as counterclockwise in the'drawings, the distance betweenports with respect .to the adjacent disk, one part in-each disk being aligned. Thus, the isolated or walled port 31 of plate 44, for exam-- 7 pie, corresponds or is aligned with the non-isolated port 38 of disk l5. 'I'hus the fluid flowing through chamber 26 will flow through the slot 31 not into the chamber 26 but on through the slot 38 in plate is into the chamber 21. In

-' other words, the isolated ports serve'to provide through passage through the plate in which the isolated port is located and the sealing members or gasket 39 and 40 serve as end walls for the associated chamber or'channel.

By making all of the disks identical or duplicate, it is'very simple to assemble any number 'of disks ina stack. Thus,-a very simple means is provided for varying the capacity of the heat exchanger; Since the ports are located in the samepositionin .each disk, the proper location .nuidand an intake'conduit 48 and an outlet conduit '44 for thesecond fluid. The conduits 4| to 44,..inclusive, maybe suitably fastened in cooperation with the slots inthe top and bottom plates or disks II and 20, respectively, in any suitable manner, as by welding as indicated bythe numeral 46, for example.

In operation, in a milk pasteurizer, for exam me, the milk to be pasteurized will enterth'e exchanger through the inlet conduit :4l, pass through plates 20 and is into the chamber ll, thence around the chamber "30 to the right or in a counter clockwise direction, downwardly throughplates "and I1 into-chamber 2s and so on until finally the milk will flow from chamber 24 downwardly through plates l2 and into outlet conduit 42. The heating medium, as steam for example, will enter the heat exchanger through the inlet conduit 43 and pass to the left or in a clockwise direction through the. chamber 23, upwardly through the aligned port in plates 12 and I3 into chamber 25 and so on until finally the heating'medium will pass out of the heat-exchanger iromchamber II and conduit 44.

In order to prevent regions of stagnant flow in corners near the inlet and outlet ports and conduits or ducts, the ports and conduits are made substantially as wide as the channelsthem selves, and. if desired, the gaskets or separating means 2!, 22, 39 and 40 may be shaped so that there are no sharp corners. The conduits 4| to '42, inclusive, may be in the form offlat tubes but in the illustrated form of myinvention, I have shown round conduits flattened out in the vicinity of the heat exchanger,

The aforementioned heat exchanger is advantageous because the fluid conveying chambers or channels are provided with 'smooth'surfaces thereby rendering the heat exchanger easy to clean. Furthermore, by providing narrow channels, it is unnecessary to provide ribs or the like to direct the streams of fluid through the exchanger and therefore there is nothing in the arrangement to cause the separation of cream and skimmed milk,nor are there any ribs or corrugations to accumulate casejn deposits. Further, since the fluid paths curve gradually at all times, there is inherently a moderate turbulence of the flowing fluid which helps to maintain'a uniform velocity over the cross section 0! the milk stream and a uniform turbulence which results in improved heat transfer characteristics but no great increase in resistance to flow.

. 1. Rings 32' and 34' are maintained in the stack engaging positions by means of a spider 41 comprising a plurality of legs engaging the rings and having a central boss 48 provided with an axially extending bore. Similarly, rings 33' and are maintained in the desired positions by a spider 49 having a boss 50 centrally arranged and having an axial opening therethrough in alignment with the axial opening in boss 48. The assembly is maintained in the assembled condition by a suitable fastening means as a bolt 5| extending through the aligned bores and the central portion of the stack and a wing nut 52.

In Fig. 8, there is illustrated an altemativemeans for isolating the transfer port 31 and sealing the fluid conveying chambers associated with the non-isolated port 38. Instead of providing complete annular seals 2| and 22, as shown in Fig. 5, and transverse gaskets 39 and 40 for defining fluid conveying chambers, I have provided substantially annular members 2| and 22' joined at the ends thereof by transverse portions 53 and 54. The port 31 is isolated by sealing means 55 extending entirely around the port. This arrangement provides passages 56 and 51 communicating between each pair of disks or members and the atmosphere for conducting any leakage past the gaskets or seals out of the exchanger.

While I have illustrated a horizontally arranged heat exchanger, the assembly may be disposed in any desired position, horizontally orotherwise.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the particular construction shown and described and I intend in the appended claims to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire' to secure by Letters Patent oi the United States is:

1. A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of conically-shaped, duplicate annular disks ar-- ranged in nested relationship. each of said disks having an annular flange adjacent each marginal edge thereof, each of said disks having means adjacent each marginal edge and cooperating with the adjacent disk for spacing apart said disks in order to provide a relatively fiat, narrow fluid conducting channel, means for rendering said channels fluid-tight, means for maintaining said disks in assembled relationship, each of said disks having a pair of spaced apart ports, said disks being assembled so that each disk is displaced in a circumferential direction the distance between said ports with respect to the adjacent disks, a port in each disk being aligned with a port in the adjacent disk, sealing means disposed about one of said ports for isolating said oneof said ports, the isolated port in one disk being aligned with the non-isolated port in the adjacent disk whereby two sets of series connected-fluid conveying channels are provided, a channel from either set being disposed between channels of the other set so that two fluids may be conducted through said heat exchanger in counter-flow.

duplicate annular members arranged in nested relationship, each of said members having an annular flange adjacent each marginal edge thereof, each of said members having means adjacent each margina1 edge and co-operating with the adjacent member for spacing apart said members in order to provide a relatively thin and narrow fluid conducting channel, means for rendering said channel fluid-tight, means for maintaining said members in assembled relationship, each of said members having a pair of spaced apart ports, said members being assembled so that each member is displaced in a circumferential direction the distance between said ports with respect "to the adjacent members, a port in each member being aligned with a port in the adjacent member, sealing means disposed about one of said ports for isolating said one of said ports, the isolated port in one member being aligned with the non-isolated port in the adjacent member whereby two sets of series-connected fluid conveying channels are provided, a channel from either set being disposed between channels of the other set so that two fluids may be conducted through said heat exchanger in counter-flow.

3. A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of duplicate annular members, of substantial radius, the inner and outer circumferential edges thereof having relatively large radii of approximately the same order of magnitude, means for defining a single, annular, relatively thin and narrow fluid conducting chamber between each pair of adjacent members of. substantially uniform width, said means spacing apart said members and also rendering fluid-tight said chambers, each of said members having two circumferentially spacedapart ports, sealing means for isolating one of said ports, said members being assembled so that each member is displaced ina circumferential direction the distance between said ports with respect to the adjacent members whereby said isolated port is aligned with the non-isolatedport in one of the adjacent members.

4. A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of duplicate annular members or S-shaped cross section and arranged in nested relationship, each of said members having an annular flange adjacent each marginal edge thereof, each of said members having means adjacent each marginal edge and cooperating with the adjacent member for spacing apart said members-in order to provide a relatively narrow fluid-conducting channel, means for rendering said channels fluid-tight, means for maintaining said members in assembled relationship, each of said members having a pair of spaced apart ports, said members being assembled so that eachmember is displaced in a circumferential direction the distance between said ports with respect to the adjacent members, a

port in each member being aligned with a port in the adjacentmember, sealing means disposed about one of said ports for isolating said one of said ports, the isolated port in one member being aligned with the non-isolated port in the adjacent member whereby two sets of series connected fiuid conveying channels are provided, a channel from either set being disposed between channels,

of the other set so that two fluids may be conducted through said heat exchanger in counterflow.

ROLLIN H. NORRIS.

2. A heat exchanger comprising a plurality of 

